Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2025 | 17(8): 27346–27354
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9724.17.8.27346-27354
#9724 | Received 28 February 2025 | Final received 05 August 2025 |
Finally accepted 18 August 2025
Cypris decaryi Gauthier, 1933 (Crustacea: Ostracoda: Cyprididae): a new
record for Maharashtra, India, with a note on its distribution
Shruti Milind Yeola
1 , Renuka
Rajendra Khairnar 2 & Yugandhar
Satish Shinde 3
1,2,3 Aquatic Biology Research Laboratory,
Department of Zoology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce
(Autonomous) (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University), Shivajinagar,
Pune, Maharashtra 411005, India.
1 shruti.yeola18@gmail.com , 2 khairnarrenu1998@gmail.com,
3 yugandharshinde@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Editor: Kauresh
Vachhrajani, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of
Baroda, Vadodara, India. Date of publication: 26 August 2025 (online & print)
Citation: Yeola, S.M., R.R. Khairnar &
Y.S. Shinde (2025). Cypris decaryi
Gauthier, 1933 (Crustacea: Ostracoda: Cyprididae): a new record for Maharashtra, India, with a
note on its distribution. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 17(8):
27346–27354. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9724.17.8.27346-27354
Copyright: © Yeola et al. 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use,
reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing
adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Zooreach Conservation Seed Grant (24ZCSG03I) and Modern College, Pune-5, Seed Money Project (2024-2025).
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Shruti Milind Yeola, pursuing Ph.D. in the Department of Zoology at Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Shivajinagar, Pune. Her research focuses on diversity and community ecology of microcrustaceans. Renuka Rajendra Khairnar, research scholar in the Department of Zoology at Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Shivajinagar, Pune. Her research area includes taxonomy and diversity of ostracods. Dr. Yugandhar Satish Shinde, an assistant professor in the Department of Zoology at Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Shivajinagar, Pune. His research focuses on taxonomy, diversity, and ecology of aquatic invertebrates.
Author contributions: YSS conceptualized and planned the work. Funding acquisition was made by SMY. SMY, RRK, collected the samples. Methodology was performed by RRK, SMY under supervision of YSS. SMY, RRK drafted the paper and YSS revised the paper. All authors have contributed, read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Acknowledgements:The authors thank the authorities of Modern College, Pune-5 for providing facilities. We acknowledge Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board for granting permission for sample collection
(MSBB/Desk-5/Research/624/2023-24). SMY is grateful to Zoo Outreach Organisation for providing Zooreach Conservation Seed Grant (Project ID: 24ZCSG031). YSS
is thankful to Modern College, Pune-5 for financial support through Seed Money Project (2024-2025). RRK is thankful to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research Fellowship for providing fellowship. Authors would like to thank Head of the Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University for providing SEM facility.
Abstract: Specimens of Cypris decaryi Gauthier, 1933
were collected from riverine potholes in the semi-arid zone of Maharashtra,
India. The species has previously been recorded from various states in India.
This is the first confirmed occurrence from Maharashtra, accompanied by a
detailed description and notes on its distribution.
Keywords: Basaltic rocky outcrop,
diversity, freshwater, microcrustaceans, Nighoj,
riverine potholes, taxonomy.
Introduction
Ostracods are enormously diverse bivalved crustaceans occurring in different types of
aquatic habitats ranging from 0.2–3 mm in body size. The updated list of the
present freshwater ostracods contains
2,420 species worldwide, under the order Podocopida Sars, 1866 (Meisch et al. 2024)
belonging to superfamilies like Cypridoidea
Baird, 1845 ; Cytheroidea Baird, 1850 ; Darwinuloidea Brady & Robertson, 1885; and Terrestricytheroidea Schornikov,
1969 , with the first two leading in species diversity (Meisch
et al. 2019) including 154 species from India (Karuthapandi
& Tilak 2023), whereas ostracod fauna of Maharashtra has 38
species belonging to 15 genera (Patil & Talmale 2005).
One of the oldest known genera ‘Cypris’
from the superfamily Cypridoidea, is the most
diverse group in tropical regions with the highest species diversity in
Afrotropical, and Oriental regions, characterised by
large body size, and sub-globular appearance as described by Müller in 1776
(Mesquita-Joanes et al. 2020). Seventeen species
of the genus Cypris were reported worldwide (Meisch et al. 2019), whereas eight species were reported
from India (Karuthapandi et al. 2014).
Cypris decaryi was described for the first time by Gauthier (1933)
from Androy Island near Madagascar. It was reported
from 22 localities between 1932 and 2021. The species was first reported by
Victor & Fernando (1979) in India, followed by Jain (1979) from Gujarat,
and Battish in 1986 (Battish
2000) from Punjab.
This paper presents the first report of Cypris decaryi from
Maharashtra, sampled for the first time in the riverine potholes of Nighoj, including a detailed description of the species
along with a note on its distribution.
Materials and Methods
The specimens of Cypris
decaryi were sampled from the riverine pothole
(approximately 1.2 m in length, 0.7 m in width, maximum depth 0.6 m), located
at coordinates 18.932o N, 74.262o E (Figure 1) in Nighoj, Maharashtra, a state in India that occupies a
substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau in the peninsular part of the Indian
subcontinent. Ostracods were collected during a survey on 29 September 2024
using a simple hand net with a 150 µ mesh size, stored in 100 ml containers,
and fixed in 4% formaldehyde immediately in the field. Subsequently, the samples were washed with
tap water and preserved in 70% alcohol. Cypris
decaryi was observed, sorted, identified, and
dissected under the Magnus MS24 stereomicroscope. Five specimens were used for
the study. Dissection was carried out in polyvinyl lactophenol medium using
tungsten needles, and drawings were done by camera Lucida which was attached to
Lawrence and Mayo LM-52-1802 microscope. Scanning electron microscopic images
were taken on JEOL analytical scanning electron microscope at the Department of
Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, at an accelerating voltage of 10 kV.
Terminologies for the soft part anatomy and chaetotaxy are after Broodbakker & Danielopol
(1982) and Meisch (2000).
Specimens were deposited at the Department of Zoology,
Modern College, Pune, Maharashtra.
Results
Systematic account
Class Ostracoda Latreille, 1802
Subclass Podocopa G.W.Müller, 1894
Order Podocopida Sars, 1866
Suborder Podocopina Sars, 1866
Superfamily Cypridoidea
Baird, 1845
Family Cyprididae Baird,
1845
Subfamily Cypridinae Baird,
1845
Genus Cypris O.F.Müller, 1776
Cypris decaryi Gauthier, 1933
1933, Cypris decaryi Gauthier, 1933: Gauthier 209–215
1979, Cypris decaryi Gauthier, 1933: Victor & Fernando 162–163
1990, Cypris decaryi Gauthier, 1933: Martens 136–139
Synonymies
Cypris ravenala Brehm, 1934(7): (Martens & Behen
1994)
Cypris labiata Rome, 1962 (128–132): (Martens 1990)
Measurements (µm)
Carapace (n = 5) L(length) = 1680–1685, W(width) =
1230–1245.
Left valve (n = 5) L = 1514–1640, H(height) =
1050–1150.
Right valve (n = 5) L = 1510–1640, H = 1000–1150.
Carapace
(Figure 1A–F) — globular, subovate, valve surface
covered with fine granules and hairs, valve margin hairy. The dorsum was highly
arched, the ventral margin somewhat sinuated, the anterior margin broadly
rounded than the posterior, the greatest height situated in the mid or slightly
in front of the mid-length. Right valve (RV) was larger than left valve (LV),
both valves with flange, and selvage displaced inwardly from the dorsal view,
and the anterior end appears beak-like while the posterior LV slightly overlaps
RV.
RV (Figure 1B,C) — with large flange, selvage largely displaced
inwardly, at the posteroventral side, fine small
tubercles present. The inner calcified lamella at the posterior end is broad.
LV (Figure 1A,D) – with a small flange, selvage displaced inwardly, posteroventral tubercles are absent, additional inner list
present, inner calcified lamella at the posterior end slightly shorter than RV.
Antennule (A1) (Figure 1A,A’) —
seven segmented, first segment with one dorso-subapical
seta, wouters organ absent, on proximal side at ventro-apical two long setae present. The second segment is
short and wide, with one seta dorso-apically reaching
half the length of the next segment; on the other side, a short Rome organ is
present. The third segment is the longest among all the segments, carrying two
setae, one dorso-apical reaching beyond the fourth
segment, and one ventro-apical short, slightly hairy,
reaching the tip of the fourth segment. The fourth segment dorsally has two
long setae, ventrally two setae of unequal length (inner most is short reaching
tip of the next segment other one is long, reaching beyond the sixth but not
reaching up to the tip of the terminal segment). Fifth segment with four long
setae: two dorsally, two ventrally. The sixth segment with four long and one short
seta. The seventh segment has two long setae, aesthetasc
Y, and one short seta.
Antenna (A2) (Figure 1B,B’) —
first protopodal segment consists of three setae (one
most proximal and two situated ventro-laterally). The
second protopodal segment has one seta situated ventro-apically reaching the tip of the first endopodal segment. Exopod reduced plate-like structure
having three setae (one long, two short setae).
Endopod — first endopod segment
with two segmented aesthetasc Y (position unclear), ventro-apical setae reaching the tip of the penultimate
segment and with 5+1 natatory setae (five long
feathered setae reaching just behind the tip of the terminal claw and one short
accompanying seta, length of this accompanying seta reaching halfway along the
length of the penultimate segment. The penultimate segment, undivided medially
on the ventral side four “t” setae (t1–t4) (t1 reaching beyond the tip of the
terminal segment, and t4 reaches the base of the z2 seta, t2 and t3 are very
long and reach around 90% of the length of claw G3 and on dorsal side at the
same position two setae of unequal length. Distally of the same segment, three
serrated claws (G1, G2, G3). G1 is the longest among all, behind these claws,
three long z setae (z1, z2, z3), z3 is the longest of all, reaching just beyond
the tip of the apical claw. Terminal segment with two serrated claws, claw Gm
is more than half the length of GM, presence of long g seta, and aesthetasc Y3, which is half the length of g seta.
Mandible (Figure
1C) — as shown in the figure.
Mandibular palp (Figure 1D,D’) — four
segmented. The first segment has two long hairy S1 and S2 setae, one long and
one short, slim, slender, smooth, called alpha seta. The second segment
dorsally has three apical setae of unequal length (innermost is shorter),
ventrally with group of three long smooth setae of varying length, one long
hairy seta, and one very short hairy seta with pointed tip known as beta setae.
On the third segment, there is a group of three setae, on the dorsal side four
subapical setae (two short and two long setae), ventrally two subapical setae,
laterally with three apical smooth setae and gamma setae, gamma setae
approximately twice as long as the fourth segment. The fourth segment has four
claws and one seta.
Maxillary palp (Figure 2A) — two- segmented, basal segment with a
group of six apical setae, one medial seta reaching beyond the tip of the
terminal segment, and one dorso-subapical seta, all
setae are long. The second segment is longer than twice the width. There are
three maxillary endites present, Zahnborsten
(tooth-bristles) of the third endite are strongly
serrated
First thoracopod (T1) (Figure 2B) — Protopodite with two proximal “a” seta,
two long “b” and “d”, and distally a group of 14 apical setae, and two
subapical setae. Endopodite with three unequal apical setae.
Second thoracopod (T2) (Figure 2C,C’) — first
segment with two seta, “d1” and “d2” (“d1” is larger than “d2”). The second
segment has a long “e” seta reaching beyond the mid length of the next segment,
third segment has a medial long “f” setae reaching the
tip of the terminal segment, and apically has a short “g” seta reaching just
beyond the tip of the terminal segment. The terminal segment is short and
triangular with two setae (“h1” and “h3”) and one claw (“h2” serrated at the
distal end). Seta “h1” is larger than “h2” (length of seta ‘h1’ compared with
claw i.e., ‘h2’).
Third thoracopod (T3) (Figure 2D,D’) — known as
the cleaning limb. First segment with three setae (“d1, d2, d3”) of different
lengths. The second segment with long apical e setae reaching two-third of the
next segment. The third segment bears “f “setae reaching the tip of the
segment. On the terminal segment, the “h2” setae are transformed into the
pincer organ, there is also one short “h1” seta, and subapical h3 (reflected)
seta.
Caudal ramus (CR) (Figure 2E) — well developed and symmetrical, with two
claws (“Ga” and “Gp”) and two setae (“Sa” and “Sp”).
Caudal ramus attachment (CR attachment) (Figure 2F) — strong and distally bifurcated.
Taxonomic remarks
Cypris decaryi varies from other species in valve morphology by its
characteristic shape and smooth surface. The species is relatively closer to C.
pretusi, as both have anterior beak-like
appearance but the width: length and height: length ratio of the two species
make them different. It differs from type species C. pubera
by the presence of large spines on the posterior margin of its carapace, and
from C. granulata in valve ornamentation. In
contrast to C. protubera, C. decaryi differs
due to the granulated surface on the valve and its margins, which are hairy
except for the dorsal margin, and by a prominent anteroventral
protuberance. Both the claws are
serrated along the dorsal margin in C. protubera,
while claws in C. decaryi are serrated only upto half part.
Distribution
Cypris decaryi was first described from Androy,
Madagascar by Gauthier in 1933. It was later reported by Brehm (1934) from
Paramaribo, Suriname of northern South America, by Gauthier (1939) from Lake Fitri, by Klie (1944) from Lake
Edward, Kiss (1960) from Burundi, Triebel (1961) from
Caribbean Island, Rome (1962) from surrounding of the Lake Tanganyika, McKenzie
(1971) from Aldabra islands. Broodbakker (1983)
reported it from Bonaire, Curacao and Puerto Rico Island, from two localities
from Sri Lanka by Neale (1984); from Namibia by Martens (1990), from Jamaica by
Little & Hebert (1994), from Brazil by Martens et al. (1998) and Balearic
Islands by Zamora et al. (2005). The first report from India was made by Victor
& Fernando (1979), followed by Jain (1979) from Kachchh, Gujarat, and by Battish in 1986 (loc. cit.) from Patiala, Punjab. In the
present study, C. decaryi is reported from the
riverine potholes of Nighoj, Maharashtra.
Discussion
South America, India, and Madagascar were connected
during the late Cretaceous period (Krause et al. 2006). Zamora et al.
2005 reported C. decaryi from the Balearic
Islands, Spain, and predicted the presence of the species due to the
transportation of rice. Rice fields are considered ideal habitats for
introducing and establishing alien species (Rossi et al. 2003). Species
originally endemic to South America, Asia, and Africa might have been
introduced into Italy through rice seeds (Smith et al. 2018). We assume that C.
decaryi has originated from Madagascar, possibly
the drifting of the continents led to establishment of the species in various
areas of previously known Gondwana.
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